UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Kate Robeson-Grubb grew up loving to read. Always curious, she said, she was driven to ask why and dissect every idea she encountered. The hunt led her to develop a broad set of interests and the realization that sustainability and policy touch every facet of people's lives.
“I really couldn't decide what I wanted to go to school for,” Robeson-Grubb said. “I was enamored with the natural sciences, but I also had a large interest in international relations and foreign policy after my high school AP government class. I didn’t know what I wanted to do, but I know I didn’t want to commute to a campus.”
Already working full-time as a marketing researcher, Penn State World Campus caught her attention due to its flexibility and convenience, she said. She also found a program that catered to all of her interests, and in 2022, she earned her degree in Energy Sustainability and Policy (ESP).
After graduation, she quickly got to work in Solebury Township as a sustainability specialist and an administrator of the township’s Environmental Advisory Council, just 45 minutes away from her hometown, Quakertown, Pennsylvania.
The diverse ESP curriculum helped prepare her for the dynamics of her role. Routinely, she shifts between discussing years-long projects, such as the township’s adoption of the Sierra Club’s Ready for 100 goals, which includes achieving 100% clean electricity by 2035, and addressing immediate concerns. Situated on the Delaware River, stormwater management has become a priority. A chance elective on coastal resiliency primed her for the challenge, said Robeson-Grubb.
“The township manages a lot of important infrastructure, and we're worried about inland flooding and the increase in precipitation events like what we’ve seen this summer,” Robeson-Grubb said. “I distinctly remember being asked in one of my first meetings to look over a riparian buffer restoration plan and thinking, 'Oh, hey, I've heard these terms before.’ Getting that baseline level of engineering helped me grasp the project and gave me confidence to participate.”
In addition to project meetings, she presents proposals to the Board of Supervisors that address various topics, including energy transition, waste reduction and other environmental issues. She also handles public education engagements, which involve translating long policy documents into visual educational materials. According to Robeson-Grubb, learning how to budget her time was her biggest challenge as a student with a full-time job, but now it's her most frequently used skill — a skill she uses to make time for her favorite part of the job, talking to the township’s residents one-on-one.
“Sometimes, residents come in because they need a random permit from zoning or building. Sometimes, they come in with strong feelings, positive or negative, about one of my projects and want to speak to me,” said Robeson-Grubb. “No matter what I get to talk shop about, it's a great experience because I get to be the human side of government. It's rewarding getting to know the people who live here and learn more about how I can best serve them.”
Robeson-Grubb’s commitment to serve extends beyond the residents of Solebury Township to her alma mater. Solebury Township participated in the 2024-2025 Local Climate Action Program (LCAP) cohort, a partnership initiative of the PA Department of Environmental Protection, Penn State Sustainability, John and Willie Leon Family Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering (EME), and ICLEI: Local Governments for Sustainability. The program enlists Penn State students to help Pennsylvania’s local governments develop plans to reduce carbon emissions and adapt to a changing climate — two of which were assigned to work with Robeson-Grubb throughout Solebury’s participation.
As a remote student she experienced firsthand the difficulty of finding an internship that met her needs. Now, she’s happy to bring that level of understanding to the equation and ensures there is a steady stream of Penn State interns and capstone students to assist her. For Robeson-Grubb, seeing students take positive steps toward a successful career has been satisfying.
She was recognized for her commitment at EME’s annual awards banquet this past fall, where she received the Distinguished Achievement Award in Energy and Sustainability Policy and Renewable Energy and Sustainability Systems.
“I didn't expect to end up in public service, but it’s been one of the best decisions I could have ever made,” Robeson-Grubb said. “Every day is different, which is great, because monotony can really kill somebody's motivation — or at least someone like me.”
She stays motivated and has a positive, productive mindset, she said, as she chips away on projects that won't conclude until 2050, knowing her contributions will help leave things better off for future generations.
Editor's note: This story is part of the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences' "Brain Gain" series featuring graduates of Penn State who stay in Pennsylvania and go on to serve in roles that are vital to the state's infrastructure, economy and public service sectors.